Encik Razak Abdullah was born in Kuala Terengganu in 1950 and he was brought up amidst the still largely rural environment of that scenic east state, during the 1050s and 1960s. He grew up amidst the laid-back atmosphere of the riverine kampungs and the scenic fishing villages. surrounded by a rich, bountiful tropical world of natural organic forms and shapes. These initial formative experience of his unhurried, youthful past have certainly help shape his subsequent romanticised artistic vision as a practicing landscape painter of idyllic, scenic views. And, because his stylistic approach has been largely influenced by the art of the 19th century French Impressionists, artists whom he has always admired, his paintings may be rightly described as expressive, impressionistic renderings of the Malaysian tropical environment. These landscape paintings, produced between 1996 and 2003, are thus notable for their subtle colour tonalities and harmonies, the interest in atmospheric light effects and the thick, vibrant brushstrokes and rich textures. These oil paintings, some of which are being shown in the present exhibition are, perhaps, better left to “speak” for themselves. What they do reveal is that Razak Abdullah is indeed a sensitive, accomplished interpreter of our scenic, tropical environment.

These impressionistic landscape paintings also reveal that he has certainly found deep satisfaction in his new-found career as a fine artist. Incidentally, it may be stated here that Encik Razak initially began his professional career as a graphic artist, after his graphic art studies at the School of Art and Design of the then Institute Teknologi Mara or ITM in Shah Alam, during the early 1970s. (I had the privilege of being one of his art lecturers at ITM.) He subsequently set up his own successful graphic art firm during the 1980s and become a successful businessman as well, in the process. By the mid-1990s, he had put aside enough savings to live comfortably and he chose to return to his first love – Painting – which he had excelled at even during his school days. He seemed to have had enough of the hectic, client-dictated, commercialised demands of the business world and now wanted to find a more private, personalised dimension to his creativity.

He thus made the transition from a successful graphic artist to a a budding fine artist. As a fine artist, he has thus been a late starter. How has he fares so far? The landscape paintings in this exhibition bear clear testimony of his successful new journey of self-discovery as a landscape painter. He has revealed perseverance, sensitivity and sustained creativity in these landscape paintings. There is also an undeniable sense of joyousness of expression detectable in them. These art works are imbued with celebratory visions of aspects of the tropical Malaysian environment. I wish Encik Razak Abdullah every success in his new creative endeavours.